Tsvangirai Election Campaign Continues Despite “War Zone” Conditions: Press Statement
This Press Release from the MDC, dated 3 June, was received by email today. It gives a good flavour of what it is like to be an opposition party campaigning in Zimbabwe. Reading it, it’s incredible to imagine that anyone could ever call elections in Zimbabwe ‘free and fair’.
Movement for Democratic Change Press Statement
Bulawayo: Despite escalating violence and intimidation, the people of Zimbabwe continue to come out to support MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai.
This week, although the police granted permission for President Tsvangirai to hold rallies in Matabeleland, Zanu PF ordered the army to camp within the grounds of the rally venues.
Yesterday at Manama in Gwanda North, the Presidential campaign arrived to conduct their rally, only to find that a group of heavily armed soldiers had been encamped at the approved venue since the previous evening. This is yet another tactic designed to intimidate the rural population from openly expressing its support for the MDC.
Reports have also been received by the MDC that following President Tsvangirai’s visit to rural areas, soldiers and Zanu PF militia are moving in and beating those people that went to greet the president.
Reports have also been received from Chivi of armed soldiers conducting a door to door campaign threatening to shoot any persons that openly support the MDC President.
Last night, in a related incident in Shamva, two MDC supporters were killed by Zanu PF militia. This brings the total of MDC supporters killed since the March 20th elections to 58.
Speaking in Bulawayo this morning, MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai said, “Mugabe is determined to turn the whole country into a war zone in order to subvert the will of the people and steal the June 27th election by any means possible.”
“But we will not stop campaigning, the people will not stop supporting the MDC and together we will defeat this illegitimate and desperate regime”, he added.
The MDC President again urged members of SADC to deploy their observers as soon as possible in order to prevent Mugabe from continuing to wage war on his own people.
June 4th, 2008 16:45
Hundreds of Zimbabweans fleeing from the Xenophobic attacks in South Africa on Monday were greeted, the moment they crossed the Limpopo river into the border town of Beitbridge, by what they thought was a pleasant surprise. Waiting to welcome them was Matabeleland South Governer, Angeline Masuku. But, whoha! Beware the snake in the grass!
The Governer, who is also a Zanu-PF Politburo member, shocked returnees when sho openly urged them to vote for Mugabe in the forthcoming election in return for a piece of land.
The Deputy Director for the Department of Social Welfare, Togarepi Chinake, was the first to make the offer of land as he addressed the returning citizens: “We welcome you home,” he said, “I wish to notify you that, if there is anyone among you who wishes to start a new life as a farmer the Government has land that it can offer you. At the end of this meeting you can register with us, stating the province where you come from, and the one you prefer to be resettled in.”
Most people rejected these overtures of political bribery and refused to register for the promised land. Zanu-PF is employing every trick in the book.
June 4th, 2008 17:14
Great to hear that our people are not falling for ZANU-PF’s “snake in the grass ” tactics.
June 4th, 2008 20:19
…. and to Meki this is nomal! Opposition not allowed to campaign. Same on you Mbeki.
June 6th, 2008 01:49
I would like to inform all peace loving Zimbabweans that we in the rest of the world support you, especially here in the UK. We are desperately looking forward to when President Morgan is rightfully sworn in as the next president of Zimbabwe. What a disappointment Robert Mugabe has been. How can he claim to be a Zimbabwean when he brutalises his own people.
We are praying for you Zimbabwe as believe the the evil Robert Mugabe will be removed as soon as possible. Long live freedom and long live a free and democratic Zimbabwe!